Spanish police seize six tons of cocaine hidden in banana cargo

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Police display a portion of the more than six tonnes of cocaine hidden among bunches of bananas which officials siezed at an industrial estate at the police headquarters in Malaga, Spain, October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish officials have seized more than six tons of cocaine hidden among bunches of bananas at an industrial estate in Malaga and arrested 16 people in connection to a suspected drugs ring, police said in a statement on Thursday.

More than 300,000 euros in cash, weapons and high-end cars were also confiscated after raiding more than 20 homes and business in relation to the bust, the police said.

A police statement said the suspects were smuggling drugs from Latin America via a company dedicated to importing large quantities of bananas and other fruit from Costa Rica, according to a statement.

The investigation into the drugs ring lasted for almost a year and also involved Portuguese and U.S. officials, it said.

In April, Spanish police made a record seizure of nearly nine tons of cocaine in a shipping container that was also carrying bananas in the southern port of Algeciras.